'Trade bandh': All major markets closed in Delhi today in protest against sealing drive - DETAILS

In a statement, the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) said that over seven lakh traders, part of the 2,500 traders associations, would keep shutters down today as part of the protest.

Representational image&nbsp | &nbspPhoto Credit:&nbspBCCL

New Delhi: Businesses in the national capital are observing a total shutdown on Tuesday to protest against the ongoing sealing drive by the municipal corporations. The drive is being conducted on the orders of a Supreme Court-appointed monitoring committee. Reports said all major wholesale and retail markets in Delhi will remain closed today as part of the ‘trade bandh’.

In a statement, the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) said that over seven lakh traders, part of the 2,500 traders associations, would keep shutters down today as part of the protest. Among the major markets that would remain shut today include Chandni Chowk, Connaught Place, Lajpat Nagar, Amar Colony, Khan Market, South Extension, Greater Kailash, Karol Bagh, Sadar Bazaar, Kamla Nagar, Ashok Vihar, Vikas Marg, Preet Vihar, Model Town, Azadpur, Kalkaji and others.

Last month too, a bandh was observed in Delhi on February 2 and 3 against the sealing drive which started in December last year.

According to CAIT secretary general Praveen Khandelwal, a ‘vyapaari panchayat’ would be held in Karol Bagh in which thousands of traders are expected to participate.

The traders are demanding that the Union government bring a legislation in the current session of Parliament to put a moratorium on sealing. They have also urged Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to convene a one-day special session of the Assembly and pass a bill to stop the drive that began from Defence Colony Market in mid-December.

"It has become difficult to trade in Delhi and if it continues, the traders will be forced to shift their businesses to neighbouring cities like Noida, Faridabad, Gurgaon, Bahadurgarh, Sonepat which will adversely affect the economy of Delhi," Khandelwal said.

Civic bodies have undertaken the sealing drive initiated by a Supreme Court-appointed Monitoring Committee on December 17 last year. The committee is sealing business establishments that are using residential properties for commercial purposes. Commercial premises have been sealed for failing to deposit conversion charges according to provisions in Master Plan 2021.

Meanwhile, the BJP will be boycotting an all-party meet called by CM Kejriwal today to find a solution to problems being faced by the traders. Delhi BJP general secretary Ravinder Gupta said the party would not attend the meeting, adding that after the incident at the CM's residence on January 30, where a delegation of the saffron party was "misbehaved with", it was proved that the AAP does not believe in a "political dialogue".

"It would have been better had the chief minister met the Supreme Court-appointed Monitoring Committee and registered his protest for carrying out a sealing drive without any notice. The government should appoint prominent lawyers as the chief minister has appointed for his personal litigation," BJP said in a letter to Kejriwal.

However, Delhi Congress president Ajay Maken will attend all party-meeting to be held at the chief minister's residence today. Kejriwal had on Sunday written to Maken and Tiwari, inviting them for the meeting at his residence on Tuesday, saying, "We should rise above politics and come together to find a solution to the problems that have risen due to sealing."

'Trade bandh': All major markets closed in Delhi today in protest against sealing drive - DETAILSDescription:In a statement, the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) said that over seven lakh traders, part of the 2,500 traders associations, would keep shutters down today as part of the protest. Times Now